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Subsidy: Alumni donates rice to varsity staff
The University of Cross River State (Unicross) Alumni Association on Tuesday in Calabar donated 50 bags of rice to workers in the institution.
The National President of the association, Dr Inyali Peter, said the donation was meant to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal and the present economic situation in the country.
Inyali who made the donation on behalf of the association, also appealed to the government to increase the monthly subvention to the institution.
The national president further appealed to Cross River citizens of note to reach out to staff of the institution during the yuletide period.
Inyali who recently emerged the President of the Unicross Alumni, said the association would continue to prioritise the welfare and interest of both the students and staff of the institution.
“During our campaigns, we said that even though the association is not a union, as we will give in our all to work to give back to our alma mater.
“We will not forget our members who are genuinely in need. This, to us, is also the essence of an alumni association.
“We are aware that you are owed some salaries, not because the management is unwilling to pay but because the finances are not just there.
“The subvention from the government can no longer carry the university because the institution is growing with new programmes and the staff strength is expanding.
“Even if salaries are paid, the hard economic condition would make it difficult for you to cater to the enormity of challenges facing you with your meager salaries.
“So, we decided to reach out with this little token. We intended to reach out to everybody but we’re constrained financially.”
The association commended Gov. Bassey Otu for the rehabilitation of both the internal and external roads within the institution.
“We believe that the governor is aware of the suffering of our staff and how management is struggling to pay salaries.
“Therefore, as an association, we want to appeal to him to urgently consider the upward review of the monthly subvention to the university,” he stated.
Speaking on behalf of ex-students working in the university, Dr. Godswill John, Convener, ‘BLazers for Unicross’ commended the NEC for their magnanimity and assured that the rice will be sure fairly.
Dr Godswill John, commended the alumni for their magnanimity and assured that the rice will be shared fairly.
“This is the first time we are experiencing this. You know we are the front liners as staff of the institution. This president is just about six days in office and we are seeing action.
“This shows that more is yet to come. We thank him and his team and assure them we receive this wholeheartedly.”
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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